Free Week in Austin serves to underscore the major problem with loving independent music and living here. If you’re a casual fan of music or a normal person capable of recognizing that one simply can’t do everything and should relax, then you’re probably fine. However, if you are as insane as I am (Jen Leduc I’m looking in your direction), then weeks like this are HELL–a glorious hell, but a hell nonetheless. Still, we put aside our own neuroses and put together this list of where we think you should be each night of the week. The decisions were not easy, my friends. We picked just one video/song from one band to keep the post digestible.
One more thing: if bands are getting paid during free week at all (and we maintain they should be–all the shows we put together will pay bands), they’re being paid from bar sales. You got in for free, so tonight’s the night to splurge on that premium drink rather than the Lone Star. That doesn’t mean getting plastered and putting yourself in danger. You got in for free, so fork over the extra cash for the cab ride. Be safe out there, good people of Austin, and enjoy all these great bands playing shows for free.
Friday, Jan 2 – Be HERE at all costs!
Holy Mountain — curated by Pop Press INTL. & The Loyalty Firm
Sweet Spirit
A. Sinclair
Harvest Thieves
Borrisokane
Little Radar
Saturday, Jan 3
Spiderhouse Ballroom — curated by Laurie Gallardo
Young Tongue
Chipper Jones
Shivery Shakes
Lowin
Yuma
Sunday, Jan 4
Holy Mountain — curated by Side One Track One and Hip Hop Hooray
Crew54
Magna Carda
P-Tek
Scuare
Table Manners Crew DJing all night
Monday, Jan 5
Holy Mountain — curated by Austin Town Hall
Shivery Shakes
Jonly Bonly
Slow
Young Girls
Tuesday, Jan 6
Mohawk — curated by Punctum Records
RF Shannon
Jess Williamson
Feverbones
Lomelda
Dark West
Wednesday, Jan 7
Mohawk — a SECOND night curated by Punctum Records <3
Taft
Daniel Francis Doyle & the Dreams
Major Major Major
Alex Napping
Loblolly Boy
Thursday, Jan 8
Hotel Vegas
Major Major Major
Big Bill
Kay Odyssey
Booher
Holy Torpedo
Friday, Jan 9
The Blackheart — curated by Side One Track One
Pompeii
Sweet Spirit
BLXPLTN
Shivery Shakes
Summer Salt
Pollen
Saturday, Jan 10
Cheer Up Charlie’s — curated by Pop Press INTL.
Salesman
Lomelda
Matthew Squires
Daniel Francis Doyle & The Dreams
The Point
Cross Record
That last night is the toughest ones, dudes! Man, oh man! Of course, we think you should come party with us and we picked our favorite venue in town to close out the week. But there will be incredible shows all within a block or two that night. All the shows are free, so bounce around and drop by and see us at some point!
